So strange to think this is Grindhouse before Grindhouse. Marking the first time Rodriguez and Tarantino collaborated as directors together, Four Rooms is not entirely successful but is worth a look for the novelty. Tim Roth as Ted the Bellhop is the only constant in this anthology that chronicles New Years Eve and four separate vignettes dealing with four rooms and situations.
The latter two stories, directed by Rodriguez and Tarantino, are the most successful whereas the first two are uninspired. "The Missing Ingredient" could have been something special, as it features a coven of beautiful actresses, including Madonna, as witches attempting to summon their goddess. There's a nice blend of swinging '60s quirk during this segment, but it's mostly awkward and stilted. The second segment, "The Wrong Man" is just bizarre and drawn out. David Proval as Sigfried isn't unhinged enough to be a jealous husband, and aside from a clever use of transitions between scenes and rooms (including a cool shot of Ted stuck in a window) this one's a snooze.
"The Misbehavers" is the most successful, but I couldn't tell if the kids were real trouble or Ted was just being a jerk to them. The final shot, when Banderas gets back, is classic. "The Man from Hollywood", meanwhile, has a great concept but is too drawn out. Tarantino has a gift of building tension through dialogue, but unfortunately he's off his game here. The zippo lighter bet should've been introduced much earlier. As is there's about twenty minutes of Tarantino either improvving or delivering his own dialogue badly (his joke in Desperado is much better) and Bruce Willis yelling at the phone before a plot materializes. The other segments are based entirely around hook, drawing you in from the start, but this final segment tricks you into staying around with false promises that don't really deliver.
Roth as Ted is hit-and-miss. I love the actor, but he relies too much on Chaplin-esque shuffling and quirky reactions here. It's hard to tell, as well, if he's intended to have any story arc. All we know through the first two segments is that he smokes, doesn't care much for the guests, and is a bit of a coward. Is it suggested that he's a push over at the beginning and stands up for himself when he cuts off the pinky at the end? Only Rodriguez knows how to direct Roth here, playing up a more ruthless angle on the character. Otherwise he felt like something out of a sitcom.
Worth a look for the perfect storm of talent, but mostly an ambitious failure.
